On the Haftarah: His Name Will Be One

For the Haftarah of the First Day of Sukkot, From the Teachings of the Rebbe

An breathtaking aerial view of the Mount of Olives in the Old City of Jerusalem

For the haftarahof
the first day of Sukkot we read the
last chapter of Zechariah, because it mentions that when Moshiach comes, after
the great war of Gog and Magog, the
remainder of the gentiles of the world will be obligated to celebrate the
holiday of Sukkot. It makes a lot of sense that they should celebrate Sukkot,
because, during this holiday, 70 sacrifices were brought for the 70 nations of
the world.

The haftarah opens
with a description of the war. At first, half the city will go into exile. But then, G‑d will do the fighting.

The haftarah then
says: “On that day his feet will stand on Mount of Olives.” What is the meaning of
this metaphor of feet standing on Mount of Olives?

One explanation is that it refers to Moshiach who will stand on Mount of Olives and teach the nations of
the world about G‑d.

Another explanation is that olive oil is symbolic of
intelligence, as our sages tell us that the residents of Tekoa were known to be wise, because of their consumption of olive
oil. Olives, the source of olive oil, represents the source of the intellect,
and Mount of Olives is the place where the source of intellect comes from. So,
Mount of Olives is symbolic of serving G‑d based on our understanding. Feet
symbolize accepting His will with unquestioning faith. In other words, serving
G‑d not based on understanding, but rather an acceptance of the Heavenly yoke.

In our verse, the feet are standing on Mount of Olives. This
means that the service of G‑d through unquestioning faith is above or greater
than the service based on intellect.

One would think that serving G‑d through intellect would
be greater and more meaningful than blind faith. What puts unquestioning faith
above intellect?

When serving G‑d through your understanding, it may seem
more meaningful to you, but it is limited to your intellectual capacity, which
is small compared to the infinite levels that could be attained. However,
serving G‑d through accepting His will, not being based on understanding, is
unlimited and therefore, what it can accomplish is unlimited.

The primary service of our generation, which we are told is
the generation that will bring Moshiach, is through unquestioning faith. It is
this mode of service, being unlimited, that will draw down G‑d's unlimited
revelation, the era of Moshiach.

Now you see how these two explanations are really one. It
is we who bring Moshiach through our
unquestioning faith. That is why Moshiach
will be able to stand on Mount of Olives and teach the nations of the world
about G‑d.

This idea is also mentioned later in the haftarah where there is a famous verse
that we say several times a day. It speaks about a time, that when Moshiach comes: “G‑d will be King over
the entire earth, on that day G‑d will be one, and His Name will be one.”

What does it mean that His Name will be one?

G‑d's Name is made up of four letters, Yud, Hey, Vavand Hey. The first two letters, Yud
and Hey is G‑d's presence that
surrounds the world. This presence, if revealed, would be too much for
existence to handle. The last two letters, Vav
and Hey, are the Shechinah, G‑d's presence that fills the
world and relates to every part of existence according to its needs. Through
our service and performance of mitzvot,
we draw down the surrounding presence, and raise up the filling presence, with
the goal to unite them as one. When we do so and Moshiach will be here, His
Name will be one. Both the first and second halves of His Name will have the
higher level of holiness, and the world will be prepared to handle this great
revelation.

This is the meaning of the line we say at the beginning of
the morning prayers, dedicating our actions “for the purpose of uniting the
Holy One Blessed Be He and His Shechina.
To unite Yud Hey and Vav Hey with a complete unification...”

The greats of past generations served G‑d through
intellect, but it is we who will bring Moshiach
through our unquestioning faith. May he come soon.